Holman Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1Soon afterward He was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,

1Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him,

2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her);

2along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons;

3Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.

3Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed

4As a large crowd was gathering, and people were flocking to Him from every town, He said in a parable:

4One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:

5"A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky ate it up.

5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.

6Other seed fell on the rock; when it sprang up, it withered, since it lacked moisture.

6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.

7Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.

7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.

8Still other seed fell on good ground; when it sprang up, it produced a crop: 100 times what was sown." As He said this, He called out, "Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!"

8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

9Then His disciples asked Him, "What does this parable mean?"

9His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

10So He said, "The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

10He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’

11"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.

12The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.

13And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, welcome the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and depart in a time of testing.

13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.

14As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.

14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

15But the seed in the good ground--these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit.

15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Parable of the Lamp

16"No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light.

16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

17For nothing is concealed that won't be revealed, and nothing hidden that won't be made known and come to light.

17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.

18Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him."

18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” The True Family of Jesus

19Then His mother and brothers came to Him, but they could not meet with Him because of the crowd.

19Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd.

20He was told, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You."

20Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.”

21But He replied to them, "My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God."

21Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” Jesus Calms the Storm

22One day He and His disciples got into a boat, and He told them, "Let's cross over to the other side of the lake." So they set out,

22One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out.

23and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger.

23As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.

24They came and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to die!" Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm.

24The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.

25He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, "Who can this be? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him!"

25Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

26Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.

26So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.

27When He got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met Him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs.

27As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.

28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What do You have to do with me, Jesus, You Son of the Most High God? I beg You, don't torment me!"

28As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!”

29For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.

29For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.

30"What is your name?" Jesus asked him." Legion," he said--because many demons had entered him.

30Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons.

31And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss.

31The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

32A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.

32There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission.

33The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.

34When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside.

34When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran.

35Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

35People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.

36Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered.

36Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

37Then all the people of the Gerasene region asked Him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, He returned.

37And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake.

38The man from whom the demons had departed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He sent him away and said,

38The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying,

39"Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you." And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.

39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. Jesus Heals in Response to Faith

40When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him.

40On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him.

41Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house,

41Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him.

42because he had an only daughter about 12 years old, and she was at death's door. While He was going, the crowds were nearly crushing Him.

42His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds.

43A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years, who had spent all she had on doctors yet could not be healed by any,

43A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure.

44approached from behind and touched the tassel of His robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped.

44Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.

45"Who touched Me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds are hemming You in and pressing against You."

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”

46"Someone did touch Me," said Jesus. "I know that power has gone out from Me."

46But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”

47When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured.

47When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.

48"Daughter," He said to her, "your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

49While He was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader's house, saying, "Your daughter is dead. Don't bother the Teacher anymore."

49While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

50When Jesus heard it, He answered him, "Don't be afraid. Only believe, and she will be made well."

50But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”

51After He came to the house, He let no one enter with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child's father and mother.

51When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother.

52Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But He said, "Stop crying, for she is not dead but asleep."

52The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

53They started laughing at Him, because they knew she was dead.

53But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.

54So He took her by the hand and called out, "Child, get up!"

54Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!”

55Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then He gave orders that she be given something to eat.

55And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

56Her parents were astounded, but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

56Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.